Have you seen a dinosaur today?









Summer, 2022

Scroll to the end of the page to see the most recent project update. 

The children have been asked to create a whole school museum experience as their end of term exhibition. Together we will gain chronological understanding and further knowledge and understanding of the past. Through research we will be able to look into historical interpretation using a variety of sources and develop our historical enquiry, organisational and communication  skills. 

A final product project: 

The Key Areas of Competence (KAoC)

This term's cross-curricular project will develop the children's skills in the following curriculum areas:

ROOTS: PSED.

TRUNK: Communication and Language, Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Working Scientifically, Environmentalism and Sustainability, Creative Tech and Digital Communication.

CROWN: Creative Arts & Design, Understanding the World- Science Skills.

Steps to Success 

(draft, written with the children)


Step 1: Research dinosaurs using a range of sources, 

Step 2: Identify the chronology of dinosaurs, 

Step 3: Find or make dinosaur fossils and models, 

Step 4: Visit museums to inform our display, 

Step 5: Write information texts about the history of dinosaurs.



Introduction

First, we played melting snowman to find our our project theme of history. We were incredibly excited for this to be the case because we have always loved everything historical. Individually we created mind maps about the history topics we enjoy and the information we already know about these topics. 

Then, we chose one history topic that we would like to focus on and found peers who also wanted to focus on this topic. In small groups we wrote a second mind map about our focus topic, we ended up with five groups and five topics, Inventions, Ice Age, Romans, Egyptians & Dinosaurs. Together as a group we presented to the rest of the class aiming to persuade them to want to study our topic!

Next, we took a vote with the rule that we couldn't vote for our own topic. With excitement we tallied the votes and our winner was dinosaurs. We think it is no coincidence that Travis, Lenox's Dad paid us a visit and spoke to us about his job as a Palaeontologist mid way through this decision process. He had us hooked with the first line of his presentation "Have you seen a dinosaur today?" 


Parent questions to ask your Adder:

Update #1 -19.5.23

First, we learnt how fossils are formed. We created a word wall defining the words, archaeology, palaeontology, dissolved, minerals, cast, sediment, pressure, crystallise and mould. Using images we retold the ways in which fossils are formed from the death of in this case an animal all the way until the fossil unearths many, many years later. 

Then, we explored the different types of fossils. Learning that a cast fossil is formed when the bone has dissolved and a hole is left behind. If water rich minerals or sediment fills the gap crystals can form creating a fossil in the shape of the bone. While a mould fossil is formed by the impression left in rock by the remains of an organism. 

Next, it was our turn to try and make fossils! We use plasticine to mould a bone and covered it in plaster of paris, aiming to make a mould fossil. In addition we carefully carved the holes a fossil may have left behind out of air dry clay to create a cast fossil. We used a variety of research material to help us with our fossil shape each time sorting the fossils into cast or mould. We loved the process of unearthing out fossils seeing what prints were left behind.

Parent question to ask your Adder:

Update #2 -9.6.23

First, we began tracking the history of dinosaurs on a timeline. We have been learning about chronology and what it means. Aiming to comprehend the big numbers we are working on a visual display, discussing different ways to visually show how long ago the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous period really were. We plan on displaying this at our museum at the end of term.

Then, in small groups we began researching the different fossils that can be found in different locations around the UK. We have been using a really interesting website https://ukfossils.co.uk/ to 'travel' around the UK and inadvertently plan many family holidays! "I'm going to write that down, I am so going to ask my parents to go there!" 

Next, on our art trip to Tate Modern we took time to notice how the gallery had displayed the artwork. Knowing we need to make a museum we took inspiration from the labels, the way art was sorted and the large amounts of information displayed on the walls. Interestingly we made the observation that the large canvas' had a big impact and left us feeling awe inspired. We will take this into account when creating our visual displays. 

On Monday we will be taking part in a virtual workshop live from a dinosaur museum in Hull! We will have the opportunity to ask questions to the presenter at the end of the session. Think of what question you might like to ask over the weekend.

We need large pieces of cardboard to help with our museum display. If you have any at home, please bring this in over the next few weeks.

Update #3 -30.6.23

First, we took part in a virtual dinosaur workshop live from a Dinosaur Museum in Hull. Steve showed us a large array of dinosaur fossils and replicas from the museums collection and explained them with great detail. We had prepared some questions for Steve and we were able to use our strong speaker voice one by one to ask him. His vast content knowledge was so inspiring we couldn't believe how he was able to answer them with such ease.

Then, we began to create our museum display, dividing into four smaller research groups. Each group chose a different dinosaur to research. As a group we created a list of subheadings that would be appropriate for an information display. Using books and ipads we gathered answers to our research questions in our books before having the sparrows join us to help with typing our information into a poster on Canva.

Next, we went on our highly anticipated trip to The Natural History Museum. We explored fossils, excitedly sketching the fine details we could see. During our Dino Dig workshop we were incredibly articulate and respectful of the resources when identifying the dinosaur skulls. We finished with a walk through the dinosaur exhibits taking down notes and inspecting the displays. 

The Adders represented LWS spectacularly on Tuesday at the Natural History Museum. They were kind, considerate and respectful. Their growing knowledge was evident as they walked around the museum, connecting pieces of information in their mind. They should all be very proud of themselves!

Update #4 -30.6.23

First, 


Then, 


Next,